20 April 2026 13:00

On 20 April, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov was elected Chair of the 82nd session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) within the framework of his working visit to the city of Bangkok, the capital of the Kingdom of Thailand. It is envisaged that our country will chair UNESCAP for the next one year.

At the opening ceremony of the session dedicated to the theme “Leaving no one behind: Advancing societies for all ages in Asia and the Pacific”, the address of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. Ilham Aliyev to the participants of the session was delivered by Minister Jeyhun Bayramov.

In the address of Mr. President, the challenges posed by increasing geopolitical tensions at the global level to international peace and security were noted, and the importance of the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of states was once again emphasized.

In the address, the full restoration of Azerbaijan’s sovereignty, the progress achieved in the normalization process with Armenia, the Great Return program, the threats posed by mines, sustainable development indicators, the growing role of the Middle Corridor and the country’s contribution to regional connectivity through energy security were highlighted.

In the address, the increasing activity of Azerbaijan in international organizations and platforms was brought to attention. The chairmanship of the Organization of Turkic States and CICA, the successful organization of COP29 and its historic outcomes, our membership in the D-8, the upcoming World Urban Forum and other initiatives were emphasized.

Then, Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, speaking as Chair of the session, presented Azerbaijan’s priorities in the fields of inclusive development, digital transformation, green energy, regional connectivity and multilateral cooperation.

It was emphasized in the speech that in rapidly changing global conditions, inclusivity must remain a key direction. It was brought to attention that this approach is being implemented within the framework of “Azerbaijan 2030: National Priorities for Socio-Economic Development” and aims at the formation of a knowledge-based, competitive economy.

It was noted that digital technologies, online public services and artificial intelligence applications increase the efficiency of governance.

In the speech, the importance of renewable energy sources in terms of both climate and economic resilience was emphasized. The historic agreements reached within the framework of COP29 held in Baku, including the commitment to mobilize at least 300 billion US dollars annually in climate finance, were recalled. The importance of translating these commitments into practical projects was noted.

Transport, trade and logistics links were assessed as important instruments of inclusive development. Emphasizing Azerbaijan’s strategic location at the intersection of Europe and Asia, attention was drawn to the role of the Middle Corridor in regional cooperation and sustainability.

In the speech, the importance of peacebuilding efforts in our region, South-South cooperation and multilateral diplomacy was noted.

During the general discussions within the framework of the session, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Yalchin Rafiyev also delivered a speech. During the speech, the importance of promoting inclusive and sustainable development in the region, strengthening social equality and ensuring the involvement of all segments in the development process was emphasized.

The entrusting of the chairmanship of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific to Azerbaijan is a clear manifestation of the high trust shown to our country, Azerbaijan’s growing prestige in the international arena and its active participation in global and regional processes.

UNESCAP, as one of the main regional platforms of the United Nations promoting economic and social cooperation in the Asia and Pacific region, plays an important role for dialogue on issues of sustainable development, inclusive growth and social welfare.